CLINTON — A federal judge has scheduled a Jan. 14 sentencing hearing for a Clinton woman who pleaded guilty to bank fraud and tax evasion. Federal authorities say in a news release that 60-year-old Barbara Cummings pleaded guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Jackson. A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against […] [...]

WIGGINS — A former lead bank teller has been ordered to prison for eight years and must pay restitution of $201,000 for embezzling from the Bank of Wiggins. The Sun Herald reports Circuit Judge Larry Bourgeois sentenced 38-yeaer-old Veronica Morse yesterday to 20 years and suspended 12, leaving eight to serve followed by five years […] [...]

WIGGINS — The former lead teller of the Bank of Wiggins has admitted embezzling more than $200,000. The Sun Herald reports 38-year-old Veronica Morse pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge Larry Bourgeois in Stone County Circuit Court. Bourgeois ordered Morse returned to jail pending sentencing on Thursday. Bank employees began noticing suspicious activity in late 2012. […] [...]

COLUMBUS — An Oktibbeha County bank employee has been arrested for embezzling from her employer, according to Attorney General Jim Hood. Ashley Smith, 28, of Columbus, was arrested by investigators with the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division following indictment by an Oktibbeha County grand jury on one count of embezzlement. The indictment charges Smith with […] [...]

COLUMBUS — In its 125th year, BankFirst Financial Services has moved its corporate headquarters to Main Street in Columbus. The bank’s operations center will remain in Macon. BankFirst president and CEO Moak Griffin said, “A home base that’s more centralized and accessible to most of our branches enhances our efficiency, enabling us to serve our […] [...]

JACKSON — Regional bank Trustmark Corp. says profit in 2013’s second quarter rose 6 percent from the same three months of 2012, fueled by gains from its takeover of the former BancTrust Financial Group. Trustmark posted quarterly profit of $31.1 million or 46 cents per share yesterday. That’s up from $29.3 million or 45 cents […] [...]

OXFORD — DeSoto County developer Chuck Roberts will serve 10 days in a federal prison in September for his role in a bank fraud scheme involving a Southaven subdivision his company was planning to build. The Commercial Appeal reports the 46-year-old Roberts said during yesterday’s sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Oxford that his […] [...]

BUDE — A former bank executive has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for money laundering and bank fraud. U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Daniel McMullen, the FBI agent in charge in Mississippi, announced the sentence yesterday in a news release Authorities say 58-year-old Larry Barnette Hill of Meadville served […] [...]

TUPELO — BancorpSouth Inc. reports that BancorpSouth Capital Trust I expects to redeem all of its issued and outstanding 8.15 percent trust preferred securities within the next 60 days. The aggregate principal amount of the outstanding trust preferred securities is $125 million. The trust preferred securities are currently callable at the option of the Tupelo-based […] [...]

TUPELO and KOSCIUSKO — The purchase of First M&F Corp. by fellow Mississippi bank Renasant Corp. is going forward. Shareholders of both banks approved the merger today. Shareholders of First M&F, based in Kosciusko, will own about 20 percent of the merged bank. Tupelo-based Renasant will pay $143 million in stock to First M&F shareholders. […] [...]